Erie police look for links in series of robberies

Online Extras

MORE ON CRIME: To see more coverage of crime in the Erie area, including Erie County’s Most Wanted and a map of incidents in Erie and Millcreek Township, click here.

MORE ONLINE: To read more stories and see videos about local gun violence, and to view a database of criminal reports in your neighborhood, click here.

Gunmen robbed three Erie businesses in less than 15 hours, adding to a growing list of gun crimes under investigation in the city.

Investigators are comparing the latest robberies, which occurred Thursday night and Friday morning, with unsolved robberies from a week ago to see if there might be any links in the crimes, Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin said.

The latest robbery occurred Friday at about 11:45 a.m., when a man holding a black and gray gun robbed two people inside Conner's Garage, 1214 E. 26th St. Officers who responded to the garage followed footprints in the snow in an effort to catch the robber, who fled with an undisclosed sum of cash. Police had not found the man as of Friday afternoon.

The robber was described as a black male who was about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 170 to 180 pounds. He was wearing a black sweatshirt, brown sweatpants and a dark ski mask. No one was injured in the robbery.

Police also are looking for two people who robbed the Circle K store at 603 W. 26th St. on Friday at about 12:30 a.m. The robbers stole $40 in cash and 30 packs of cigarettes. The male clerk was struck above his left eye with a gun when he tried to prevent the robbers from going through his pockets, police said.

The robbers were described as males wearing black clothing and black ski masks. Each was carrying a gun. One of the suspects also was wearing a gray or light-colored hooded sweatshirt, police said.

Two teenagers are also sought in the robbery of a Kwik Fill at 2304 Buffalo Road shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday. Police said the robbers demanded money and took $60 from the male clerk while one of the robbers held a silver handgun.

The robbers were described as black males in their teens. One was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and the other was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, police said.

Police said these robberies are being compared to robberies at the Circle K store in the 3300 block of Pine Avenue and at the Manus A-plus Mini Market at East 12th and French streets March 15.

That Circle K was robbed by a man carrying a semi-automatic handgun who struck the male clerk with the gun and fired a shot at the clerk. He was described as a black male who was 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 200 pounds. He was wearing a black jacket with the hood up.

Police said a robber with a similar description robbed the Manus A-plus of cash and two cartons of cigarettes about 20 minutes later.

Erie police also are investigating an armed robbery at the Family Dollar store at 2307 State St. at about 8:40 p.m. March 14. A robber described as a black man wearing a white bandanna, black pants and a gray jacket used a silver revolver to steal cash and a brown leather jacket, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Erie police officer in charge at 870-1120.

TIM HAHN can be reached at 870-1731 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNhahn.

Online Extras

MORE ON CRIME: To see more coverage of crime in the Erie area, including Erie County’s Most Wanted and a map of incidents in Erie and Millcreek Township, click here.

MORE ONLINE: To read more stories and see videos about local gun violence, and to view a database of criminal reports in your neighborhood, click here.